Music and mountains thrill the soul of Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart's genius and the gateway to the Austrian Alps.
Salzburg is a city that dances to a different tune. Mozart was born, raised and tasted his first success in this beautiful, historic city, perched on the banks of the Salzach river. Not content with having the snow-capped drama of the Alps as a backdrop, Salzburg is rippled by five small mountains of its own. And the perfect combination of Alpine beauty, magnificent palaces and history-steeped streets have earned it the rare title of 'World Heritage Site'—and a supporting role in the world's favourite musical, The Sound of Music.Throughout its history Salzburg has gone its own way. It wasn't kings or queens, dukes or duchesses that ruled this city. For most of its past it was the Prince Archbishops who held sway here. They ploughed the riches Salzburg earned from trade into a series of ever more extravagant palaces. It was the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg who first employed Mozart as his court musician, even if it was under the bright lights of Paris and Vienna where he made his name.The heart of the city is the Altstadt, the medieval Old Town pinched tightly to the river by Salzburg's two tallest peaks – the Festungberg and the Kapuzinerberg. Many have called Salzburg the 'Rome of North'. Take a stroll around its tightly-packed narrow streets, wide open plazas, and dome-topped churches and you'll see why. The best place to start is Residenzplatz, the main square where a gorgeous Baroque fountain is surrounded by the Salzburg Cathedral, and the palaces of the Neue and Salzburg Residenz.These are just two of the Prince Archbishops' many palaces, which include the elegant gardens of Mirabell Palace and the water-filled antics of Hellbrunn Palace. Or capture a piece of Hollywood history at the Leopoldskron Palace, where the The Sound of Music was filmed in 1965.The musical epicentre of town runs from the aptly named Mozartplatz, where the great man once lived, and now stands cast in bronze, to the Getreidegasse, where merchants have plied their trade for 1000 years, and where Mozart was born. The high culture continues at the Museum Der Moderne Moenchsberg, up on the hill above the Getreidegasse, where modern art meets fabulous views. And if you want to savour the best view in town, the Festung Hohensalzburg looms over all else in Salzburg, laying the city out for you, right at your feet. To unwind after a busy day’s sight-seeing, head to the Augustiner Brewery and sample some local drinks in traditional surroundings.
